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2026-06-25·8 min

Tokyo Rent by Neighborhood 2026: Expat Price Guide

Complete breakdown of Tokyo apartment rents by neighborhood in 2026. Average costs for 1K, 1LDK and 2LDK across 15 key districts for expats budgeting their move.

Understanding Tokyo apartment prices before you start your search is the difference between a realistic brief and weeks of wasted visits. Rents in Tokyo vary enormously by neighborhood, apartment type, and proximity to a metro station. This guide gives you benchmarks for 15 key expat districts in 2026, based on current market data for furnished and unfurnished rentals.

All prices below are monthly rent in JPY, excluding service charges and utilities unless specified. Add 15-25% for fully furnished serviced apartments.

Tokyo Rent Comparison by Neighborhood: 2026

Neighborhood1K / Studio1LDK2LDK
Hiroo / Minami-Azabu150,000-200,000200,000-300,000300,000-450,000
Roppongi / Azabu130,000-180,000180,000-280,000280,000-400,000
Akasaka / Nagatacho120,000-170,000170,000-260,000260,000-380,000
Shibuya / Ebisu110,000-160,000160,000-240,000240,000-350,000
Shinjuku (central)100,000-150,000140,000-220,000200,000-300,000
Nakameguro / Daikanyama100,000-150,000150,000-220,000220,000-320,000
Meguro / Gotanda95,000-140,000140,000-210,000210,000-300,000
Shinagawa / Osaki85,000-130,000130,000-200,000200,000-280,000
Shimokitazawa / Sangenjaya75,000-110,000110,000-160,000160,000-230,000
Koenji / Nakano70,000-100,000100,000-150,000150,000-210,000
Kagurazaka / Iidabashi100,000-145,000145,000-220,000220,000-310,000
Akihabara / Kanda80,000-120,000120,000-180,000180,000-260,000
Sumida / Ryogoku70,000-105,000105,000-160,000160,000-230,000
Asakusa / Ueno72,000-108,000108,000-165,000165,000-235,000
Monzen-Nakacho75,000-110,000110,000-165,000165,000-235,000

Prices in JPY/month, unfurnished, standard 2-year lease. Add 15-25% for furnished. Data: 2026 market averages.

What Drives the Price Differences

Proximity to the diplomatic and business corridor

The cluster of Hiroo, Minami-Azabu, Roppongi and Akasaka commands the highest rents in Tokyo for expats. This area concentrates the largest share of foreign residents, international schools, and English-friendly services. Properties here often include amenities aimed at foreign tenants: 24-hour concierge, bilingual management, and direct access to Roppongi station.

Line and station quality

Properties within 5 minutes of a major hub (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Roppongi) carry a 15-25% premium over equivalent properties 10-15 minutes away. The same apartment moves from 160,000 JPY to 130,000 JPY if you are willing to walk an extra 8 minutes to the station.

Building age and type

Post-2010 buildings with seismic reinforcement (shin-taishin), elevator, auto-lock, and built-in appliances command a premium of 10-20% over older buildings. For expats planning a 2-3 year stay, newer buildings also reduce maintenance friction.

Floor level

High floors (8th and above) add 5-15% to the listed price in Tokyo. The premium is larger in buildings with panoramic views.

Which Neighborhood Suits Which Budget

Under 120,000 JPY/month: Shimokitazawa, Koenji, Nakano, Sumida, Monzen-Nakacho. These neighborhoods offer good quality of life, strong metro access, and an authentic Tokyo feel. Less international-facing infrastructure (fewer English-speaking services, fewer Western restaurants), but excellent value.

120,000-180,000 JPY/month: Shinjuku, Meguro, Shinagawa, Nakameguro, Ebisu. The sweet spot for most expat budgets. Good infrastructure, English-friendly environments, reasonable commute times to major business districts.

Over 180,000 JPY/month: Hiroo, Minami-Azabu, Roppongi, Akasaka, Shibuya. Full-service expat experience: international supermarkets, school proximity, English-speaking property managers. Suitable for families or professionals with housing allowances.

Why Budget-Only Searches Miss the Point

The cheapest apartment is rarely the best value. A 70,000 JPY studio 25 minutes from your workplace with no English-speaking property manager costs more in time and friction than a 110,000 JPY apartment that is 10 minutes away and managed in English.

For expats, the hidden cost of a mismatched apartment is measured in commute hours, isolation, and administrative difficulty. The most experienced expats start with neighborhood first, then filter by budget, not the other way around.

See: Tokyo neighborhoods guide for expats and how to find an apartment in Tokyo as a foreigner

What to Budget Beyond the Rent

When calculating your Tokyo housing budget, add:

  • Agency fee (shoukoukin): 1 month of rent, non-refundable
  • Security deposit (shikikin): 1-2 months of rent, partially refundable
  • Key money (reikin): 0-2 months, non-refundable (increasingly negotiable, especially for foreign-friendly landlords)
  • Guarantor fee: 0.5-1 month of rent per year if using a guarantor company
  • Moving costs: 50,000-150,000 JPY depending on volume and distance

Total move-in cost for a 150,000 JPY/month apartment: approximately 500,000-800,000 JPY upfront.

For furnished apartments or monthly mansions, entry costs are typically lower (1-2 months), but monthly rent is 15-30% higher.

Contact us to discuss your budget and identify the neighborhoods where your price range gets you the best match.

Read next: [furnished apartments in Tokyo with no guarantor](/blog/furnished-apartment-tokyo-no-guarantor) and [Hiroo and Minami-Azabu expat neighborhood guide](/blog/hiroo-minami-azabu-expat-neighborhood-guide), [Negotiating Rent in Tokyo: Is It Possible and How to Do It?](/blog/negotiating-rent-tokyo-tips), [7 Rental Traps to Avoid When Renting in Tokyo as a Foreigner](/blog/tokyo-rental-traps-foreigners), [Tokyo Rental Contract: 12 Things to Check Before Signing](/blog/tokyo-rental-contract-checklist).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Tokyo for expats in 2026?+
Rents in central Tokyo for expats range from 70,000-100,000 JPY/month for a studio in outer neighborhoods (Koenji, Nakano) to 200,000-300,000 JPY/month for a 1LDK in prime expat areas (Hiroo, Minami-Azabu). The most common budget for a single professional is 110,000-160,000 JPY for a furnished 1K in a mid-range neighborhood such as Ebisu or Nakameguro.
Which Tokyo neighborhood has the cheapest rent for foreigners?+
The most affordable central neighborhoods for foreigners are Koenji, Nakano, Shimokitazawa, and Sangenjaya, with studios from 70,000-100,000 JPY/month. These areas offer excellent metro access and good quality of life, though with fewer English-speaking services than the Hiroo or Roppongi areas.
How much more expensive is Hiroo than other Tokyo neighborhoods?+
Hiroo and Minami-Azabu are 40-80% more expensive than comparable neighborhoods. A 1LDK in Hiroo costs 200,000-300,000 JPY/month versus 150,000-220,000 JPY in Nakameguro or 140,000-210,000 JPY in Meguro. The premium reflects proximity to embassies, international schools, and the National Azabu international supermarket.
What are the total upfront costs when renting in Tokyo?+
For a 150,000 JPY/month apartment, expect 500,000-800,000 JPY upfront: 1-2 months security deposit (shikikin), 1 month agency fee (shoukoukin), 0-2 months key money (reikin, increasingly negotiable), and 0.5-1 month guarantor company fee. Furnished monthly mansions have lower entry costs of 1-2 months total.

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Tokyo Rent by Neighborhood 2026: Expat Price Guide - Tokyo Expat